For more than 400 years, Bladensburg, Md., has been an important gateway to the Washington area for military forces, businesses owners and families looking for a new place to call home.

Settled in the 1630s as Garrison’s Landing, Bladensburg was originally a busy Anacostia River port town. It was renamed in honor of Thomas Bladen, who was governor of Maryland from 1742 to 1747 and played an important role during the War of 1812.